Faculty Research Interests and Profiles

The appointment criteria for the Graduate Program in Kinesiology and Health Science (KAHS) are governed by and consistent with the Policy on Appointments to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, including appointment criteria of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Executive Graduate Committee of KAHS is responsible for advising on program-specific criteria, procedures and appointments.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies website provides an overview of Current Member appointments.

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology

Research InterestOur lab is interested in identifying novel regulators of inflammation and understanding the molecular mechanisms through which these regulators control innate immunity and the inflammatory response. We are currently pursruing several avenues of research, and they include:

1) Investigating the molecular mechanisms through which different exercise regimens regulate the immune response.
2) Understanding the disparate roles of TRAF1 in controlling chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
3) Assessing the role of individual Type I interferons in bacterial and viral responses.

Research Interest
Molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle protein metabolism and growth, and how these are modulated in different nutritional and diseased states. I study insulin and nutrient signaling leading to translation initiation, and the ubiquitin proteolytic system. Studies are carried out in rodents, as well as in humans with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Research Interest
Molecular mechanisms leading either to the regression or the growth (angiogenesis) of blood vessels in skeletal and cardiac muscle in response to physiological (physical exercise,inactivity, altitude) or pathological (heart failure, diabetes) conditions.

Research Interest
The physiological and molecular mechanisms that regulate glucose and fatty acid uptake and metabolism in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The major focus is on dysfunctional metabolic alterations associated with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Research Interest
A major interest of my research is studying the cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue given that fatigue is a dominant factor limiting sport performance performed at the physical limit. Increased fatigue is also a common symptom in aging and chronic disease, and hence a greater understanding of fatigue mechanisms also has broader health implications.

Given that fatigue is often the stimulus required to initiate skeletal muscle adaptations, investigating fatigue-related mechanisms likely has relevance to gaining a greater understanding of factors affecting acute post-exercise recovery, and chronic training adaptations to exercise. Potentially, the very same mechanisms responsible for fatigue may act as the key triggers to stimulate skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise. Nonetheless, the exact fatigue mechanisms by which different types of exercise may trigger training adaptations in skeletal muscle are not known.

A major emphasis of my research has been to translate knowledge gained at the cellular level to understand and improve human exercise performance. Indeed, a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms causing fatigue can serve as a foundation to develop more effective exercise training regimes, ergogenic aids and rehabilitation methods to ameliorate muscle fatigue in healthy and diseased populations.

Research Interest
The role of the cell cycle in breast cancer and muscle development; 1) the molecular link between obesity and cancer; 2) investigating how dividing muscle cells becomes fully differentiated skeletal muscle

Research Interest
Blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) in skeletal muscle; biochemical, cellular and molecular biological approaches are used to study the stimuli and signalling pathways that cause endothelial cells to initiate angiogenesis as a result of exercise or disease.

Research InterestAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease): Effects of caloric restriction, antioxidant supplementation and exercise on functional, disease and molecular outcomes in ALS, with emphasis on sex differences.
Vitamin D supplementation and deficiency on functional outcomes and molecular outcomes in the muscle and CNS in ALS
Vitamin D and calcium intake and their relationship to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Functional foods and their effects on health and disease.

Research Interest
Our research, funded by both NSERC and CIHR, involves the study of mitochondrial turnover in skeletal muscle, as evoked by either exercise, or by chronic muscle disuse. Mitochondria are the organelles that produce energy for muscle contraction, so proper maintenance of these organelles is vital for muscle and whole body health. It is now known that mitochondrial turnover can change dramatically during aging, with disuse and with disease, and that exercise is a potent therapeutic intervention that can improve mitochondrial function, and muscle health. Our work continues to be fundamental in helping us to understand the molecular factors which regulate mitochondria under these conditions within muscle.

Research InterestMy research combines clinical nutrition and exercise physiology in the context of both health and chronic disease, and centres on lifestyle modification strategies and/or training regimens that manipulate diet and exercise to achieve a healthier body composition and/or a beneficial metabolic outcome. I am particularly interested in utilizing diet (i.e. functional whole foods, nutrients, supplements) with different modes of exercise (i.e. aerobic, resistance, plyometric) to facilitate healthy changes in body composition, body weight and bone in different populations across the lifespan. Most recently, I have started to undertake acute human studies to assess the postprandial and post-exercise effect of a nutritional and/or exercise perturbation on bone health and inflammation.

Research Interest
Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of the global health burden. The environment we live in, the air that we breath, the food that we eat, and the things we do (active versus sedentary living) have a significant impact on our cardiovascular health. These environmental and modifiable risk factors interact with our non-modifiable genetic background to determine our cardiovascular health. Our blood vessels are key components of our cardiovascular system; and the inner layer of these blood vessels, the endothelium, is constantly exposed to these environmental factors. This can modulate the endothelial phenotype, potentially improving or impairing health.
While we start to better understand how environmental factors influence the health of our arteries, the macrovascular bed; it remains unknown how the interaction between environmental factors and genetic background influence the endothelial phenotype of our smallest blood vessels, the microvascular bed.
Using approaches of molecular and integrative physiology, my research program aims to better understand how the interplay between non-modifiable genetic background and modifiable environmental risk factors can influence the microvascular health.
The lab is currently looking for graduate students to perform a project to study the impact of physical activity on the epigenetic processes in microvascular endothelial cells.

(Muscle injury and damage in health and disease)
PhD, University of Albertaanbelcas@yorku.ca | 416-736-2100 x21088
333 Norman Bethune College

Research Interest
My primary focus is on the breakdown (assembly and disassembly) of striated muscle organelles and the role of calcium activated proteases, in particular calpain (CAPN1-2), during the control of these processes in health and disease. In addition to the activation and regulation of CAPN1-2, studies aimed identifying the factors contributing to the targeting of selected muscle proteins marked for breakdown are underway. Finally, the Paediatric Exercise Physiology Laboratory is focused on the study of improvement of children's muscle health and fitness through physical activity.

Research Interest
Understanding the acute and time varying responses and neuromuscular control of the spine and the possible associated injury mechanisms; biomechanical evaluation of exercise and industrial exposures; effects of modifying factors including sex, age, fatigue, and fitness level.

Research Interest
The neuromuscular control and biomechanics of postural control and of joint stability, currently with a focus on the knee joint. Understanding mechanisms related to sensory-motor dysfunction and normal aging which might interrupt these levels of control, and the potential impact of changes in neuromuscular control (local factors) on the development and progression of osteoarthritis.

Research Interest
My research is focused on understanding health promotion and the development of optimally effective health promotion messages targeting psychosocial predictors of behaviour. I am particularly interested in health promotion among special populations (e.g., people with SCI, MS), as well as children and youth. My research has focused on understanding the role of parents and the school environment in youth health promotion. Further, my research has focused on understanding the relationship between body image and physical activity.

(muscle injury and damage in health and disease)
PhD, University of Albertaanbelcas@yorku.ca | 416-736-2100 x21088
333 Norman Bethune College

Research Interest
My primary focus is on the breakdown (assembly and disassembly) of striated muscle organelles and the role of calcium activated proteases, in particular calpain (CAPN1-2), during the control of these processes in health and disease. In addition to the activation and regulation of CAPN1-2, studies aimed identifying the factors contributing to the targeting of selected muscle proteins marked for breakdown are underway. Finally, the Paediatric Exercise Physiology Laboratory is focused on the study of improvement of children's muscle health and fitness through physical activity.

Research Interest
My current research interests are investigating the effects of sex and female sex hormones on healthy cardiovascular responses to physiological stressors such as standing, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and exercise. This will develop into investigations of clinical populations such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Heart Failure. This research will involve techniques such as ultrasound and microneurography.

Research InterestMy research focuses on children and youths’ development through sport, with a particular interest in positive youth development, psychosocial influences (i.e., coaches, family, peers), contextual factors (i.e., relative age effects, culture) and differing sport trajectories (e.g., withdrawal, long term participation, high performance). Currently I am working on projects exploring preschoolers' introductions to organized sport, and characteristics of programs that may facilitate development within special populations and communities.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. Substantial health risks continue following coronary events and procedures, and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves subsequent prognosis. CR is an outpatient chronic disease management program for cardiovascular risk reduction promoting health behaviour changes such as exercise, diet, and smoking cessation. Participation results in improved quality of life, less re-hospitalization, and 25% less death.

However, research demonstrates low use of, and inequality in access, to CR. This is particularly true in low and middle-income countries, where there is an epidemic of heart disease.

There are a combination of factors relating to patients, physicians, and the health care system itself that lead to low CR use. The objective of Dr. Grace's programmatic research is to: (1) address patient, provider and system barriers to CR participation, and (2) to develop and evaluate a model of CR for low-resource settings.

Research InterestMy research combines clinical nutrition and exercise physiology in the context of both health and chronic disease, and centres on lifestyle modification strategies and/or training regimens that manipulate diet and exercise to achieve a healthier body composition and/or a beneficial metabolic outcome. I am particularly interested in utilizing diet (i.e. functional whole foods, nutrients, supplements) with different modes of exercise (i.e. aerobic, resistance, plyometric) to facilitate healthy changes in body composition, body weight and bone in different populations across the lifespan. Most recently, I have started to undertake acute human studies to assess the postprandial and post-exercise effect of a nutritional and/or exercise perturbation on bone health and inflammation.

Research Interest
Characterizing obesity and related health risks (cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) and examining the influence of physical activity using both exercise interventions and epidemiological approaches.

Research Interest
My primary research interest relates to the epidemiology and prevention of childhood injuries, using an approach that examines factors related both to children and their social context. A secondary research interest is related to children’s emergency department and hospital use for injuries and other health problems, including the reasons why children seek care (e.g., the incidence of different types of injury), and researching the best way to provide care (e.g., reducing medication errors).

Research Interest
The effect of exercise, stress and diabetes on the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Substrate utilization and metabolism during exercise in individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Research Interest
Health behaviour change in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, particularly cancer. Emphasis on intervention delivery via group therapy, telephone, print and interactive internet programming. Further emphasis on evaluating effects through innovative approaches to quality of life assessment.

Research Interest
My principal research objective is the development and application of statistical techniques to problems in kinesiology, the health sciences and epidemiology. Specific research areas include the design and analysis of cluster randomized trials, studies of interobserver agreement and statistical genetics.

Research Interest
My research interests have focused on maternal and child health (research topics include postpartum depression, weight gain during pregnancy, breastfeeding, folic acid intake and others) and effects of exercise programs on musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well being of older adults.

PhD, University of Torontolhayhurs@yorku.ca | 416-736-2100 x44515| 340 Bethune College

Research Interest
My research interests include sport for development and peace, gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health in/through SDP, cultural studies of girlhood, postcolonial feminist theory, global governance, international relations and corporate social responsibility. I am a co-editor (with Tess Kay and Megan Chawansky) of Beyond Sport for Development and Peace: Transnational perspectives on theory, policy and practice, and her publications have appeared in Women’s Studies International Forum; Gender, Place & Culture; Third World Quarterly and Sociology of Sport Journal. I previously worked for the United Nations Development Programme and Right to Play.

Research Interest
I study how unequal power relations, enacted through the social categories of race, gender and class, shape our lives, identities and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. In doing so, I hope to identify ways in which to resist social inequity.

Research Interest
My research interests, to date, have focused on the critical sociocultural study of sport and physical activity at the intersection of risk, health and healthcare including such key themes as: sport’s ‘culture of risk;’ the sociohistorical development of sport medicine in Canada and the social organization of sport medicine in Canada; and the social determinants of athletes’ health.

Publications
Harvey, J., Horne, J. and Safai, P. (2009) “From ‘One World, One Dream’ to‘Another Sport is Possible’: Alter-globalization, (New) Global Social Movements and Sport.” Sociology of Sport Journal, 26(3).
Safai, P. (2007). A critical analysis of the development of sports medicine in Canada, 1955-1980. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 42(3), 321-341.
Safai, P., Harvey, J., Levesque, M. and Donnelly, P. (2007). Sport Volunteerism in Canada: Do Linguistic Groups Count? International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 42(4), 425-441.
Safai, P. (2005). The demise of the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Canada. Sport History Review, 36(2), 91-114.

Application

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These include the Conference Support Fund, Thesis Support Fund, and Skills Development Fund. Applicants are eligible for funding from only one of these funds per year. Average funding is $100 per applicant and varies depending[...]

The Professional Development Fund provides funding to members in all Units to support them in attending and presenting at conferences, and with other professional development expenses. A total of $125,000 is allocated to this fund[...]

These include the Conference Support Fund, Thesis Support Fund, and Skills Development Fund. Applicants are eligible for funding from only one of these funds per year. Average funding is $100 per applicant and varies depending[...]